Tag: Joseph

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God First

Daily Reading

Genesis 41-42

Daily Thought

Seventeen-year-old Joseph had two dreams of his future. Real dreams, the kind that show up when you are asleep. Sheaves of wheat in one, the sun, moon, and stars in the other, and they all bowed down to Joseph. Those dreams spoke of great promise someday, but so far, they had been nothing but trouble. Joseph, the “dreamer” his brothers called him, had been disowned by his family, enslaved in Egypt, and forgotten in prison.  

Joseph, now 30, is sitting in a dark prison cell, when he is called before the Pharaoh. “I have had a dream,” said Pharaoh, “and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it” (Genesis 41:15). 

If you are Joseph, how do you feel about that? You once had dreams. God showed you a great future, but nothing so far has come of it. Joseph could say, “Me first, God. What about the answers to my dreams?” But he didn’t. Instead, Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires” (Genesis 41:16). Joseph said, “God first,” and told Pharaoh the meaning of his dreams.

That is when Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you” (Genesis 41:39-40). And they all bowed down to Joseph, the dreamer. The dreams came true.

Joseph’s story had a happy ending, but Joseph didn’t know that when Pharaoh asked for his help. What Joseph did know was the first thing to do is put God first.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You called me and saved me in order to make me like Your Son, my Lord Jesus Christ. Change me, day by day, by the work of Your Holy Spirit, so that I may grow more like Jesus in all that I think and say and do.

Help me to remain faithful to You and Your calling upon my life.  Strengthen and grow my trust in You, as the trials and experiences of life shape my faith.  You know best, God.  Help me remember that.  It’s amazing how much different, how much better, how good my life is, when I put You first.

Amen

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The Allure of Sin

Daily Reading

Genesis 38-40

Daily Thought

Sin was introduced with the serpent who questioned God’s goodness when he asked Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). This is the heart of temptation, that good may be found outside God, that God may be keeping something desirable from us. The same serpent was speaking when Potiphar’s wife “cast her eyes on Joseph and said, ‘Lie with me’” (Genesis 39:7). She looked good.

Joseph’s situation was like Adam and Eve’s in the Garden of Eden, “My master has put everything that he has in my charge” (Genesis 39:8-9) …except one thing. The difference was Adam and Eve kept looking at the sin, “the woman saw that the tree was good for food” (Genesis 3:6). Joseph kept his eyes on God, “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). 

A man ran up to Jesus, knelt before him and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:17-18). 

Joseph “would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her” (Genesis 39:10), because Joseph knew there is nothing good without God. We choose good over evil when our attraction to God is greater than the allure of sin. Worship is greater than willpower.

Daily Prayer

My God, how wonderful is Your love for me, Your attention to my life, Your wisdom and direction in leading me forward. You ask me, simple enough, to follow. You do not ask me to win any battles, but to stand in the victory already won by Your Son.   

I shall spend my days exploring the Your wonders of Your revelation. You have made Yourself known in Your Word, and in the Word, which is Jesus. May I everyday become more intimate with You, and may I reflect Your grace and truth to a world that desperately needs the faith, hope, and love of the good news of Jesus Christ.    

Amen

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Meanwhile

Daily Reading

Genesis 35-37

Daily Thought

Jacob knew his son, his favorite son, Joseph, was gone, apparently dead. The sons of Jacob knew more. They knew Joseph was not dead. He was, however, as good as dead. They had sold him into slavery. 

But nobody knew about ‘meanwhile.’“Meanwhile the Midianites had sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard” (Genesis 37:36). When you read the word ‘meanwhile,’ it might be a clue God is up to something. Meanwhile describes something happening at the same time in another place. Meanwhile means the story isn’t over. Meanwhile is the habitation of God, a place where God is at work. 

We draw conclusions and make decisions based on all we know, but all we know does not mean we know all. God may be up to something good in the meanwhile.

Jacob’s sons sold their brother Joseph to the Midianites. Joseph would become a slave, then a prisoner, then the prime minister, second in command beside Pharaoh over the land of Egypt and would save the people of Egypt, and of Israel, from famine. Joseph explained ‘meanwhile’ to his brothers, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today”

Meanwhile is Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Daily Prayer

Sovereign God, You not only know the future, You make the future. You are good and all that You do is good. I trust in You, not because I know Your plans (I usually don’t), but because I know You, and You are good.

You are the Potter and I am the clay. As You mold me, Your wisdom and beauty is on display. Father, may I not resist, but rather surrender to Your hands and trust in Your skill.

Amen